From 1887 to 1895, he was assistant to Fyodor Schechtel, and from 1889 he was working for the Department of Empress Maria (charitable branch of the Imperial government).

Among the major early constructions of Kuznetsov was the Medvednikov grammar school (Russian: Медведниковская гимназия) in Moscow, which became a model for public buildings in the Art Nouveau style.

Cooperation with Abramtsevo continued through 1908-1910, when, by the commission of Ivan Kokorev, Kuznetsov built Voznesenski Temple in Tesino near Vichuga, usually called Red Church (Russian: Вознесенский храм - Красная церковь).

Later in Moscow, by commission from Nikolay Vtorov, Kuznetsov built a large business complex – "Delovoy Dvor" (Russian: Деловой Двор) – in the strict neoclassical style.

He built weapons factories for Vtorov and Mikhelson in Moscow, Serpukhov, Zatishye (Elektrostal), Bogorodsk (Noginsk).